ABERDEEN put their well-publicised problems behind them in Lithuania last night to make virtually certain of place in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
Preparations for the new campaign have been far from ideal both on and off the pitch, but that only served to spur the players on to their most impressive European performance for years.
Billy Dodds led the way, scoring two goals and setting up the others for a result that makes the return leg at Pittodrie in a fortnight virtually a formality.
Dodds glided on to a Colin Woodthorpe pass to hammer home a smartly-taken volley in the 43rd minute to set the pattern for the night.
Aberdeen's pre-season defensive frailties did emerge for a brief spell after the interval, and Tomas Razanauskas hauled the Lithuanians level with a close range shot.
That was soon forgotten when Dodds sent Stephen Glass clear for the second strike 20 minutes from the end as the youngster finished with real aplomb.
Zalgiris then caved in under a siege from the visitors, and after Dodds was hauled down in the penalty box he took the resulting spot kick himself to make it 3-0 in the 80th minute.
The former St Johnston striker was not finished there, though, as he found time to lay on a last-minute fourth with a precise, back post cross that substitute Duncan Shearer nodded in.
It was a fine all-round team performance from the Dons, especially as top striker Scott Booth was left behind to recover from a knee injury picked up last weekend.
Manager Roy Aitken hailed his side's victory as "magnificent".
It vindicated the manager's assertion that his players would get it right on the night, and he said: "There has been an over-reaction to certain things and my players responded magnificently.
"They did their talking on the pitch and did the club, fans and themselves proud with the result.
"We can now look forward to Saturday's game with Celtic and I am content with the way things have ticked over.
"This was a magnificent team performance and while we gave all due respect to the opposition we worked hard for the victory and were clinical in our finishing."
